Inside and outside Charola at the Convent of Christ in Tomar
Charola or Round Church at the Convent of Christ in Tomar (Convento de Cristo) is listed in the UNESCO World Heritage and it was built in the 12th century, apparently to emulate the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. The Round Church (Charola) has sixteen sides externally but internally is an octagonal and decorated with paintings from the 16th century. In addition, the central area of Charola is exuberantly decorated in the Manueline style, which is the unique Portuguese Gothic style, that incorporates motifs brought from the maritime travels of the Portuguese navigators around the world, among them Vasco da Gama and Pedro Alvares Cabral.
This is an internal photo of Charola or Round Church at the Convent of Christ in Tomar. Among other architecture marvels, visitors can see 16th century paintings by Portuguese artists
This is the centre of the Round Church (Charola) at the Convento of Christ, sumptuously decorated in the Manueline Style, which incorporates elements of the Portuguese maritime discoveries
This is Charola or Round Church outside the Convent of Christ in the City of Tomar. Externally, Charola has sixteen sides (polygonal), but internally is an octagonal